Birds of Mongolia

ID Resembles a long-tailed Locustella warbler or small babbler, best distinguished by strong black moustachial stripe, rufous streaks on flanks and pale iris. Despite its alternative name, does not have a white brow. Voice Song is a sweet, inflected dear-dear-dear-dear; call a pleasant, cheee-anh. Habitat Dry, rocky hillsides with scattered shrubs. Behaviour Skulking and difficult to see; runs with tail cocked. Status Vagrant. Two birds recorded at Shar Khuls oasis, Trans-Altai Gobi, July and August 1943. Taxonomy Recent research and analysis (Gelang et al. 2009; Alström et al. 2013) refer this species along with other warblers to the babbler family (Timaliidae). [Alt: White-browed Chinese Warbler, Chinese Hill Warbler, Chinese Hill Babbler].

ID Similar to Lanceolated and Pallas’s Grasshopper Warblers, but adult lacks bold breast streaking of former and colourful, contrasting upperparts of latter. Imm from imm Lanceolated by minimal streaking below and from imm Pallas’s by latter’s unstreaked rump and tail. Occurs in three different colour morphs (in adult and juvenile). Voice Song is a continuous, dry, toneless, insect-like trill like an angler’s reel spinning, very similar to Savi’s but slower and not as high-pitched. Call is a high, dry tick or tsit singly or in pairs. Habitat Nests in dense shrubbery and sedge tussocks bordering rivers and lakes, but also margins of upland forest clearings; seldom uses reedbeds. Behaviour Shy and mouse-like, rarely seen until flushed or when male sings from exposed perch. Status Rare and very local breeding visitor, with confirmed nesting only in valley of Lake Achit in Mongol-Altai range. Breeding suspected at Buyant River near Khovd town and possibly near other lakes in Great Lakes Depression and Valley of the Lakes. Rarely recorded in suitable habitat near springs or lakes in Gobi Desert and in breeding areas during migration. Late April to late August (early September in the Gobi).

ID The smallest Locustella warbler. Adult distinguished from similar Common and Pallas’s Grasshopper Warblers, by distinct black streaks and tear-drop spotting on breast and undertail-coverts. Less boldly streaked imm similar to imm Common, which can have streaked upper breast, but lacks side streaking. Pallas’s has contrasting rusty rump and dark, white-tipped tail. Voice Song is a cricket-like ‘reeling’, similar to that of Common Grasshopper and Savi’s Warblers, but higher-pitched and given in shorter bursts. Calls include a raspy, repeated tsuh-tsuh-tsuh in varied cadence; also, a softer tuck, tuck…and chit. Habitat Breeds in tussocky sedge meadows, reedbeds and shrubby borders of other wetlands, as well as edges of damp forest clearings. Visits drier, less dense habitats on migration. Behaviour A shy skulker like other grasshopper warblers, easier to see during migration than when nesting. Status Very rare and local breeding visitor in widely scattered areas of both western and eastern Mongolia, including Tes River valley (northern Uvs Depression); lakes Khar and Khar-Us; and possibly along Onon and Balj Rivers. Scare passage migrant, only rarely recorded away from breeding areas, late April to early September.

ID Lack of streaking and generally warm-brown coloration distinguish this from other Mongolian Locustella warblers. From similar reed warblers, with which it shares habitat preference, by rounded, broad-based tail, very long undertail-coverts and song. Voice Song is a high, dry, cricket-like ‘reel’. Call is a sharp tchipp! Habitat Prefers to nest in extensive reedbeds, rarely in other dense wetland vegetation. Behaviour Not as shy as other members of its genus. Males sing from prominent perches. Nest placed low in cover. Status Recorded as rare and local breeding visitor and rare passage migrant only in valleys of lakes Khar and Khar-Us in Great Lakes Depression, late April to late August.

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BEIJING BABBLER & GRASSHOPPER WARBLERS I

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